A hardened adventurer named Urban embarks on a voyage to unravel the mystery of the Hallowed Vasties and discover what monstrous life might have grown up among the ruins, with the goal of confronting the hazards of an inverted frontier. The story delves into themes of exploration, survival, advanced technology, and the complexities of post-human existence in a far-future, science fiction setting.

Edges by Linda Nagata is an exciting and thought-provoking space opera that marks a triumphant return to the rich, far-future universe of her classic Nanotech Succession series. Set centuries after the events of Vast, Edges can be enjoyed as a standalone entry point into this fascinating world of advanced technology, existential threats, and the indomitable human spirit.

The story takes place on the fringes of known space, where the remnants of humanity eke out an existence on Deception Well, a system ingeniously engineered to evade the destructive attentions of the Chenzeme - ancient robotic alien warships programmed to exterminate all sentient life. When Urban, a mysterious adventurer long thought lost, returns in command of a hijacked Chenzeme ship, he brings electrifying news: it may now be possible to pierce the veil of dust and debris obscuring the once-majestic core of human civilization and discover what calamity befell the Hallowed Vasties.

Assembling an intrepid crew of scientists, explorers and even his own estranged father, Urban embarks on an epochal journey to unravel this mystery and reconnect with humanity's lost heritage. Aboard the aptly-named Dragon, these voyagers will be the first in millennia to retrace the route of ancestral expansion in a perilous odyssey to the inverted frontier. What awaits them in the silent ruins of a once-vibrant empire? Have any remnants of human civilization endured...or have they perhaps evolved into something unimaginable and utterly alien?

Nagata brings her signature hard sci-fi sensibilities to this riveting tale of discovery and danger. Rather than relying on speculative "shortcut" technologies like wormholes or warp drives, the story leans into the awe-inspiring vastness of space and the daunting prospect of relativistic travel over centuries. Lively and accessible discussions center around plausible advancements like digitized personalities, nanotechnology, "philosopher cells," and organic spaceship components. Fascinating worldbuilding abounds, painting a picture of a human society both familiar and unrecognizably transformed by its expansion to the stars.

The novel also grapples with weighty philosophical and ethical quandaries arising in a transhuman context. The ability to "backup" one's consciousness, generate temporary cloned bodies, or spin off autonomous sub-minds raises intriguing questions about identity, free will, and the meaning of life and death in a spacefaring civilization. Well-written interpersonal dramas and political intrigues round out the more cerebral elements.

While prior knowledge of the Nanotech Succession novels isn't strictly necessary, longtime fans will delight in references to past events and the imaginative extrapolation of concepts introduced in earlier books. The story expertly balances providing enough context for new readers while rewarding veteran fans for their investment in the universe.

Although it ends on something of a cliffhanger, the novel's stunning final act ratchets up the tension to near-unbearable levels before delivering a mind-blowing, satisfying payoff that will leave readers eager for more. With Edges, Nagata has achieved something remarkable - an engaging, suspenseful and contemplative space opera of the highest order, one that captures a palpable sense of wonder at both the staggering immensity of the cosmos and the limitless potential of the posthuman condition. Rapturous reviews from critics and fans alike are well-deserved.

Ultimately, this dazzling far-future epic proves that bold, ambitious science fiction tackling grand ideas on a galactic scale is alive and well, and in very capable hands with Linda Nagata at the helm. Edges is a must-read for any sci-fi fan seeking an intelligent, transporting and profoundly moving adventure to the stars and beyond.